Ineumatic tube



INVENTOR. 4 751. 1746240 [3844121 MA. PlCARDl PNEUMAT I C TUBE Filed May7, 1934 Feb. 9, 1937.

ATTORNEY. j

Patented Feb. :9, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT orncs 2 Claims.

object the provision of a tube having an inner tube so arranged and"constructed that a large number of individual cells or compartments are'formed in the tube capable of being inflated with air and when inflatedclosed at their upper ends from interpcommunication by an inflated Qvision of an inflatingvalve which may be se-.

inner tube so that a puncture of a tire to cause complete deflation oithe tire is rendered practically impossible.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tireinner tubehaving a plurality oi circumierentially spaced partitions and aplurality of spaced transversely extending partitions dividing the tubeinto a plurality of separate compartments.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatic tireinner tube having a plurality of separate compartments opening at theirupper ends and provided with an inflatable tube lying in said space soarranged and constructed that when inflated it will serve as a closurefor the upper ends of said compartments and seal them againstcommunication.

Another object of the invention is the prolectively used for inflatingthe separate compartments or the sealing tube.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement 'ofpartshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanyingdrawing which forms a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the invention showingit .niounted on a vehicle wheel with a part of the invention broken awayand shown in section. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the invention showing theinvention mounted on a vehicle wheel.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the invention takenon the inflating valve.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line l-l of Fig. 2. t

Fig. 5 is a prospective view of the valve cover or head with a partbroken away and a part shown in section. a

In the drawing I have illustrated the invention applied to a vehiclewheel having the tire rim 9 provided with an opening l3 through whichthe tubular valve housing Ii may project. A nut I2 issecured on thisvalve housing for securing the wheel in position This housing alsoprojects through the rubber casing or tubular tire l3. The tubularhousing is provided with a head ll which clamps against 5 the tube i3.This tube i3is shown enclosed by the casing 41 having at its base theincreased thickness to provide a tread. Extending longitudinally of thetube l3 are partitions 15 which are formed of rubber and integral withthe tube l3. The 10 partitions [5 are positioned between thetransversely extending partitions It so as to provide a honeycombconstruction in cross section as shown in Fig. 4, thus, forming aplurality oi separate non-communicating compartments ll. Thesecompartments are open at their upper end and open into the space I8.Positioned in this space I8 is an endless annular rubber tube [9. Anextension on one side of the valve housing ll is projected through thetube I9 and 20 is provided with a head 2i which clampsagainst the tube.

Formed in the housing II is a passage 22 threaded into the lower end ofwhich is a plug 23 and securing the spring 24 in this passage so 5 as tonormally press the ball 25 into the pocket 26 to close the upper end 21of the passage. A similar passage 28 is formed in the housing II andprovided with a screw plug 29 securing the spring 30 and the ball 3! inposition.

Projecting outwardly from opposite sides of the housing H are thetrunnions 32. A cap 33 is adapted for mounting on the housing II. Thiscap 33 is provided with a passage 34 c'ommuni eating with the axiallydirected passage 35 in 35 which is positioned the plugs 36 and 31 andthe spring 38 and the ball 39. This cap 33 also carries the plunger 40,formed in the cap 33 are the bayonet slots 4| adapted to receive thetrunnions 32. The upper end of the passages 21 and 28 are 40 elongatedso that when the cap is placed in position and threaded to lock itthereon, the pin 40 will ride into position for forcing the balls 3i or25 ofl the seat depending upon which position the cap is in when placedon the valve housing ll. When the cap is in the position shown in Fig. 3air delivered through the passage 35 will serve to deflate thecompartment l1 and fill the space i8. When this part of the tube isproperly inflated, the cap 33 may be removed and. replaced after beingthreaded through 180' so that the pin ill will force the ball 3| off itsseat. Air delivered through the passage 35 will then serve to inflatethe tube I9 and force it outwardly in the position shown in Fig. 2. Itwill be noted a that when the tube it is properly inflated so as to formthe position shown in Fig. 2 this tube will serve to form a closure forthe upper end of the compartments ll, consequently, it is obvious thatif one of the compartments should be punctured the other compartmentswould not be deflated and the effect of a puncture in the tube would,thus, be reduced to a minimum. It is obvious that e've'n with a largenumber of the chambers I'l punctured, the tube would still remain in asubstantially inflated condition and remain serviceable. It is obviousthat the size of the tube l9 may vary as its principal function is toform a closure; It is believed apparent also that this tube will alsofunction as a pneumatic cushion for the wheel. In fabricating a tube ofthis'kind the construction may be economically carried on by molding thevarious partitions l5 and I6 integral with the casing [3. It is obviousthat the casing l3 would be left unfinished until the insertion of thetube I 9 whereupon the meeting edges of the casing l3 could bevulcanized together. 7

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to theprecise details of structure shown, but desire to avail myself of claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An inner tube for pneumatic tires comprising: an inflatable annulartubular body; a. plurality of transverse partitions and a plurality ofcircumferential partitions in said body, said partitions being locatedin the tread portion of said body only, and intersecting each other toprovide a plurality of open ended cells, the portion of said body belowsaid partitions being free of said partitions and in communication withthe open ends of the cells; means for inflating said body mem her; andmeans within said free space for sealing the open ends of said cells.

2. An inner tube for pneumatic tires comprising: an inflatable annulartubular body; a plurality of transverse partitions and a plurality ofcircumferential partitions in said body, said partitions being locatedin the tread portion of said body only and intersecting each other toprovide a plurality of open ended cells, the portion of said body belowsaid partitions being free of. said partitions and in communication withthe open ends of the cells; means for inflating said body a member; andmeans within said free space for

